The Auto Union GP machine above would be a very "late twenties" car, since it was campaigned in 1939.

Perhaps the 2 grandest and most over-achieving marques of the 1920s were both born, and died, in that decade. First the Doble steam automobiles, created by the engineering genius Abner Doble. Most of them built in 1925:

The other is the Wills St Claire, created by another giant of automotive engineering, C. Harold Wills. Wills was the engineering right-hand of Henry Ford in the beginning of Ford Motor Company, and the Model T was showered with his mechanical and metalllurgical innovations. His own car, shown here, was a cost-no-object piece of engineering artistry that featured the first SOHC V8 engine in a roadgoing automobile, hydraulic brakes, the world's first backup lamps (a minor yet important innovation), lightweight construction throughout, and perhaps the most meticulous quality control of any automobiles before or since:

The 1927 LaSalle, which was GM's "companion make" for Cadillac, was the first production automobile line to receive the design input of the immortal Harley Earl, who came to GM on contract and ended up practically running the company as its all-important VP of Styling. Earl's work on this LaSalle created a sensation in the industry and set trends that influenced carmakers worldwide. Earl made this into a GM habit over the coming decades. Here is a picture of the 1927 LaSalle serving as the Official Pace Car for that year's Indianapolis 500 Sweepstakes Race (as it was called back then):

Do you enjoy old cars and long-winded stories about them? If your answer is "yes", then you might enjoy my blogpage. Try it here: http://vwlarry.blogspot.com . Leave a comment, too; I love feedback! Thanx for reading.

Do you enjoy old cars and long-winded stories about them? If your answer is "yes", then you might enjoy my blogpage. Try it here: http://vwlarry.blogspot.com . Leave a comment, too; I love feedback! Thanx for reading.

The '20s were an interesting transition period as cars got less wagon-like and more car like. Up until the '20s most cars were open air, some having side curtains, but few had roll up windows. Back seat heaters were nearly non-existent so cars came equipped with "robe rails" for horse-hair blankets and robes to keep you warm. Model Ts came with heaters that used the heat of the exhaust manifold to blow into the passenger compartment while you were at speed. My '33 Continental Flyer didn't even come with one.

Another interesting change is seen in the Bugatti seen above. It has an open air cockpit for the driver and aid. They were common folk and back then most houses didn't have indoor plumbing so baths were only taken every week or so. The enclosed compartment was self-preservation for the Gentry set.

Yes, limiting cars to the '20s leaves out some of the most beautiful cars in the world, the Streamliners, but I respect starting a thread like this.

Garmin Is My Pilot.

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The last two are replicas meant to look somewhat similar to the Mercedes SSK. They aren't real. I don't know the manufacture, but I would guess it's a CMC Gazelle or something.

That doesn't surprise me. After seeing what some of these super old Mercedes cars go for.

Originally Posted by barry2952

The '20s were an interesting transition period as cars got less wagon-like and more car like. Up until the '20s most cars were open air, some having side curtains, but few had roll up windows. Back seat heaters were nearly non-existent so cars came equipped with "robe rails" for horse-hair blankets and robes to keep you warm. Model Ts came with heaters that used the heat of the exhaust manifold to blow into the passenger compartment while you were at speed. My '33 Continental Flyer didn't even come with one.

Another interesting change is seen in the Bugatti seen above. It has an open air cockpit for the driver and aid. They were common folk and back then most houses didn't have indoor plumbing so baths were only taken every week or so. The enclosed compartment was self-preservation for the Gentry set.

Yes, limiting cars to the '20s leaves out some of the most beautiful cars in the world, the Streamliners, but I respect starting a thread like this.

Are you talking about the Bugatti Royal I posted the black and white photo of? Either way, thanks for sharing! I love little pieces of car trivia like that. And I am buckling a bit, posting things that are after 1930's... Like you said, the 20's are a good transition phase but I think you can still see a lot of influence from the car cars in cars in the 30's as well, and that's kind of what I'm after.